‘Calling Home All Yellow Jackets' to share your memories

Published: Sunday, March 24, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, March 22, 2013 at 11:58 a.m.

The promotion flyer reads: "Calling Home All Yellow Jackets" to a reception and program of dedication at the N.C. Justice Academy (former Edneyville High School) on May 5, 2013, from 2 to 4 p.m.

This special event will recognize the former Edneyville High School, along with each of its "feeder schools," for contributions to the history of education in Henderson County.

The Henderson County Education History Initiative is 1 year old, and significant progress has been made toward assembling and publishing (making available) information about the education history of Henderson County. The Edneyville Initiative, chaired by Rosemary Pace and Nancy C. Edwards, is an extension of that committee.

Rosemary and Nancy are former Edneyville High teachers.

Scott Rhodes, fundraiser for the event, is seeking $5,000 to cover costs — the creation of an on-site commemorative park with markers and benches.

I recently attended a planning committee meeting for this historic homecoming event. On that day, I sat at a table across from a stack of old scrapbooks, retrieved from a rubbish bin when Edneyville High School was finally closed.

Age has changed the albums into fragile reminders: edges are fraying and bindings are releasing their hold on memory.

I determine, without saying so, that I will ask to explore the contents of these scrapbooks — to release from the pages, the stored up history that is precious to so many. Call it overly sentimental. I do not care.

These pages are extensions of lives lived and contributions made.

"This is yummy stuff" comes from Mary Hill Henry, legendary Yellow Jacket basketball player, as she shares research with committee members. Mary has contacted the state archives and provides copies of records that go as far back as the 1850s — with names of teachers, facilities inventories.

Sitting next to Mary is Molly Oates Sherill, who attended Edneyville in its last year (1993) and then became a student leader at North Henderson. She remembers helping to select North's mascot, the Knight.

I am impressed by quality research given Edneyville's feeder schools — Bat Cave, Bearwallow, Gerton (Pump), Middle Fork, Good Shepherd. I am told that, with each meeting of the committee, additional feeder schools are identified. I listen as Jayne Stepp and Sharon Walker comment on Fruitland and Ebenezer schools.

There are few existing reminders of these early schools. Some have been absorbed into larger structures. There might be an old chimney still standing or, more often than not, just a plot of earth, framed by mountains and familiar terrain. How, then, do we remember? Why, then, should we remember?

Each day, valuable "pieces of time" are being lost or destroyed; old letters, records, pictures are disappearing. Of greater consequence, however, is the loss of individuals who might still remember, who could identify and share a time gone by.

Chat Jones loved his alma mater. Often he would speak of his school days — asking me if I remembered this person, this event. Chat gave special presentations at Edneyville reunions. On occasion, we would sit in Chat's office and talk with Coach John Whitmire about county history — outstanding sports teams, athletes.

Margaret Hunsinger Davidson, who died on Nov. 25, 2012, was valedictorian of the Edneyville High School Class of 1948. In many ways she represents the special people who pioneered and developed Henderson County.

Upon being inducted into the Education Hall of Fame, Margaret had this to say: "I have found that the more challenging a task, the more energy I exert, the more determination I have to succeed."

A former home economics teacher, she served Henderson County for 37 years. Davidson was a dynamic force in the development of the Edneyville Community Center.

Chat and Margaret would have been pleased with the energy and determination being demonstrated by members of the Edneyville Education Initiative.

Scott Rhodes gives a personal invitation: "Let's all come home together." It is obvious that committee members love what they are doing.

Contributions can be made to HCEF-HCEHI Edneyville through the Henderson County Education Foundation, P.O. Box 1267, Hendersonville, NC 28793.

Rosemary Pace can be reached at 685-1030. Chuck Hill, a professional photographer and Edneyville alumnus, will photograph the event.

<p>The promotion flyer reads: "Calling Home All Yellow Jackets" to a reception and program of dedication at the N.C. Justice Academy (former Edneyville High School) on May 5, 2013, from 2 to 4 p.m.</p><p>This special event will recognize the former Edneyville High School, along with each of its "feeder schools," for contributions to the history of education in Henderson County.</p><p>The Henderson County Education History Initiative is 1 year old, and significant progress has been made toward assembling and publishing (making available) information about the education history of Henderson County. The Edneyville Initiative, chaired by Rosemary Pace and Nancy C. Edwards, is an extension of that committee. </p><p>Rosemary and Nancy are former Edneyville High teachers. </p><p>Scott Rhodes, fundraiser for the event, is seeking $5,000 to cover costs — the creation of an on-site commemorative park with markers and benches.</p><p>I recently attended a planning committee meeting for this historic homecoming event. On that day, I sat at a table across from a stack of old scrapbooks, retrieved from a rubbish bin when Edneyville High School was finally closed.</p><p>Age has changed the albums into fragile reminders: edges are fraying and bindings are releasing their hold on memory. </p><p>I determine, without saying so, that I will ask to explore the contents of these scrapbooks — to release from the pages, the stored up history that is precious to so many. Call it overly sentimental. I do not care. </p><p>These pages are extensions of lives lived and contributions made.</p><p>"This is yummy stuff" comes from Mary Hill Henry, legendary Yellow Jacket basketball player, as she shares research with committee members. Mary has contacted the state archives and provides copies of records that go as far back as the 1850s — with names of teachers, facilities inventories. </p><p>Sitting next to Mary is Molly Oates Sherill, who attended Edneyville in its last year (1993) and then became a student leader at North Henderson. She remembers helping to select North's mascot, the Knight. </p><p>I am impressed by quality research given Edneyville's feeder schools — Bat Cave, Bearwallow, Gerton (Pump), Middle Fork, Good Shepherd. I am told that, with each meeting of the committee, additional feeder schools are identified. I listen as Jayne Stepp and Sharon Walker comment on Fruitland and Ebenezer schools. </p><p>There are few existing reminders of these early schools. Some have been absorbed into larger structures. There might be an old chimney still standing or, more often than not, just a plot of earth, framed by mountains and familiar terrain. How, then, do we remember? Why, then, should we remember?</p><p>Each day, valuable "pieces of time" are being lost or destroyed; old letters, records, pictures are disappearing. Of greater consequence, however, is the loss of individuals who might still remember, who could identify and share a time gone by.</p><p>Chat Jones loved his alma mater. Often he would speak of his school days — asking me if I remembered this person, this event. Chat gave special presentations at Edneyville reunions. On occasion, we would sit in Chat's office and talk with Coach John Whitmire about county history — outstanding sports teams, athletes.</p><p>Margaret Hunsinger Davidson, who died on Nov. 25, 2012, was valedictorian of the Edneyville High School Class of 1948. In many ways she represents the special people who pioneered and developed Henderson County. </p><p>Upon being inducted into the Education Hall of Fame, Margaret had this to say: "I have found that the more challenging a task, the more energy I exert, the more determination I have to succeed." </p><p>A former home economics teacher, she served Henderson County for 37 years. Davidson was a dynamic force in the development of the Edneyville Community Center.</p><p>Chat and Margaret would have been pleased with the energy and determination being demonstrated by members of the Edneyville Education Initiative. </p><p>Scott Rhodes gives a personal invitation: "Let's all come home together." It is obvious that committee members love what they are doing.</p><p>Contributions can be made to HCEF-HCEHI Edneyville through the Henderson County Education Foundation, P.O. Box 1267, Hendersonville, NC 28793. </p><p>Rosemary Pace can be reached at 685-1030. Chuck Hill, a professional photographer and Edneyville alumnus, will photograph the event.</p>